THREE generations of a family escaped death after their dishwasher caught fire as they slept but their two cats were not so lucky.

The incident took place at the Fallon family home in Grimsdells Lane, Amersham, at around 6.30am, on Saturday, June 18. Two fire crews and a police patrol car rushed to the scene.

They discovered two grandparents, their daughter, Jane Fallon and her 14-month-old son, safe and well.

One of their cats was killed by smoke. Another was resuscitated by a fireman, but later died.

Jane Fallon told the Free Press how she was awoken by the smoke alarm.

She said that at first she thought it was her daughter's mobile phone. But when she overcame her confusion she managed to get her husband, daughter and grandson out of the house safely.

She said: " I saw smoke through the bathroom window but thought it could be someone having a bonfire."

Her husband Nigel said: "I felt the kitchen door and thought this could cause me problems if I open it.

"I went round the back into the garden and could see the kitchen was filled with smoke.

"It was the most horrible acrid, plasticy smell. You cannot believe how dense the smoke was."

Mr Fallon told the Free Press that he was thankful that he had installed new smoke alarms just a few months ago.

But he is still baffled as to how his dishwasher caught fire.

He said: "We put it on before we went to bed at about 1am. Everybody does it for cheaper electricity but we certainly won't be doing it again."

The family spoke of their gratitude to their next door neighbours, whose home they rushed to while still wearing their pyjamas. They were also full of praise for fire crews.

Mr Fallon said: "The fire brigade were very prompt and very professional.

"They came back an hour later to check that the fire had gone out properly. You couldn't ask for a better service."

The brigade is certain that the family's smoke alarm saved their lives.

Firefighter Andrew Jones, from Amersham Fire Service, said: "Without the smoke alarm they wouldn't have got out.

He added: "Dishwasher fires are not really that common but they can happen."